Pilot Sport A/S3 vs Pilot Super Sport

"DasWauto" (DasWauto) 05/25/2016 at 13:00 • Filed to: Rubbers

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I’m considering my options for a new set of wheels and tyres and I’m stuck between these two Michelins. Either option should provide an appreciable and well needed increase in grip over my current hockey pucks*. The question is just whether to go full retard and install PSSs on a Golf or not.

Relevant information:

- mostly highway driving so I don’t want to pointlessly waste grippy tires

- will do a handful of autocross events every summer so I do want/need some semblance of grip.

- I’ve seen both tyres perform well at autocross, with the A/S3 being surprisingly close to its well regarded sibling.

- I don’t expect the Golf to top the times sheet on either tyre, butI would like to be out of the doldrums of beating beginners and the odd Subieyota/Miata.

- I don’t want to swap tyres for every event (which is why I’m not considering something like a set of RE71s), but I will put the hockey pucks on for road trips (at least one planned this summer, so far) and possibly/probably early spring/late fall.

- ~$730 for a set of A/S3, ~$900 for PSSs

I’m leaning to the more conservative of the two but what do you think? Should I just say fuck it and pony up for the Super Sports?

*I do actually quite like the OE Continentals and the wheels they’re mounted on. They just lack grip.

RallyWrench > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:05

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The A/S3's wear much better, I think they have a 500 treadwear rating. We recommend them for lots of the bigger German cars we see that shred their rear tires with Sports.

My speed3 is happy > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:08

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I say either go “full retard” or just stick to the OE Continentals. None of this halfway or 3/4ths way crap.

If you are stressed by the $170 price difference just Google some bean recipes and eat that for lunch until you make up the difference from your normal $5 Subway lunch (I assume)

Party-vi > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:08

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A/S3s are wonderful. That is all.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:12

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A/S3.

Got them on my E38 and they’re great and quite grippy anyway

LongbowMkII > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:14

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Not michelins.

DasWauto > My speed3 is happy 05/25/2016 at 13:18

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I appreciate your line of thought.

Price isn’t really going to be the deciding factor, I just thought it pertinent to mention.

I already go with homemade lunches so I’m good there :)

DasWauto > LongbowMkII 05/25/2016 at 13:20

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Not sure why I’m entertaining this but do you care to explain why? Personally ally I’ve had nothing but a good experience with Michelin and have little to nothing to suggest I should expect otherwise.

My speed3 is happy > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:29

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Homemade lunches are the best! Cheaper, tastier, healthier, while my co-workers all called in sick last week from food poisoning thanks to that Thai place a block away. tsk tsk

LongbowMkII > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:30

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Still bitter from the 2005 USGP.

DasWauto > LongbowMkII 05/25/2016 at 13:32

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Haha, fair enough.

Mid Engine > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:33

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I have PSS on my Cayman and like them a lot, the rears are 265/35ZR19's and sell for ~ $325 each. I have not tried the A/S3 tyres so I can’t compare the two.

EmbraceTheRasp > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:34

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If you live anywhere near a 3 season climate, go with the A/3. The SuperSports shouldn’t even be stored in a warehouse where the temp gets below 35F.

I love mine.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:34

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Please post what you decide on, because this is a decision I have to make soonish when my Potenzas die.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 13:55

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BF Goodrich G-Force Comp 2's A/S. Crazy good price and there are absolutely fantastic!

Tripper > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 14:04

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I’m planning to put PSS on my tarted up Golf. There are tires that I like better, but they don’t last nearly as long. I’m not planning to autocross this car but I do have dedicated summer/winter sets. So I like to go as “summer” as possible without being ridiculous. Price will be easier for me to eat this time as a full set on the S3 are only a smidge more than two rears on the M3 I traded for it.

youshiftem > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 14:05

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I’ve had both for daily driver use with occasional track days and autocross on my ‘84 Regal and I go with the A/S3's now because they wear more evenly, are quieter on the highway and are more predictable if the track is wet. The super sports were stickier but not worth it for me.

macanamera > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 14:10

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100% PSS, it's just the best tire on the market right now

Shankems > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 14:27

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Go for the PSS.

I went from RE71Rs (lasted 10K) to a new set of PSS 3 days ago. I am DEPRESSED. The RE71Rs were a magical tire. The PSS are merely OK. I can’t imagine stepping further down.

If you truly enjoy driving, don’t waste your time on the AS/3.

DasWauto > Mid Engine 05/25/2016 at 16:01

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Luckily I’ve only got to buy 225/45r17s so I’m not looking at $300+tires yet. :)

DasWauto > EmbraceTheRasp 05/25/2016 at 16:04

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I’m in Southern Ontario, Canada, which is definitely part of my leaning to the A/S3.

DasWauto > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 05/25/2016 at 16:05

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I saw those on Canadian Tire’s site, I think. The price is indeed nice...

DasWauto > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 05/25/2016 at 16:06

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Shall do. If I’m lucky I’ll get something this afternoon. Otherwise Friday/Saturday.

DasWauto > macanamera 05/25/2016 at 16:08

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Basically my impression as well. Just a bit of overkill for my pleb Golf though.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 16:12

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I still have hopefully a few thousand more miles, but I really don’t want to keep replacing Potenzas every 10k miles.

His Stigness > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 16:25

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I wouldn’t actually recommend either for Autocross, depending on the type of course. When I used my PSS’s the course was basically all tight turns, so I melted the front tires, and that’s pretty common with them as they weren’t designed for autocross. However, if there a lot of straights and it’s a bigger course, it should work.

As to which one, I have the AS3's on my TDI and they’re god damn awesome. So comfortable, and I never lose grip (unless I try). They also do so well in the rain, I love them.What you give up in grip thought compared to the PSS you gain in tread life. The PSS had a 30k warranty, the AS3's a 45k warranty.

Since you're going mostly highway, I say try the AS3'S.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 16:46

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I got mine from Costco for $909 installed taxes included in size 235/45ZR18. Costco seems to have the lowest price and lowest install fees out there. only $15/tire including nitrogen fill and also includes free flat repairs for life and roadside hazard warranty.

EmbraceTheRasp > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 17:38

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Yeah. You definitely don’t want the SuperSports unless you have a nice warm garage. I live an hour North of NYC and even this past week it’s still down in the 30s overnight.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 20:48

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Track only car?

Do you live in a climate that never rains, snows, or drops below 40?

If you answered no to either of these questions you don’t want PSS's.

DasWauto > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 05/25/2016 at 21:06

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Haha, nope base model Golf and Canada, so yeah, the temps go a bit below that on the regular and it snows/rains. This is for an extra set of tyres though and it does get pretty warm here in summer so the PSS is not completely unusable. That said, I’m going for the A/S3.

daender > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 22:20

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What type of Continentals? I’m partial to the DW after seeing that a E39 5-series (non-M) could pull off with a set of those. Comfortable, grippy-enough, and great in the rain.

What wheel diameter too? My recommendations are the Dunlop DZ102 and the BFG Gforce Sport Comp2 if they come in sizes favorable to your current wheels.

DasWauto > daender 05/25/2016 at 22:34

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Conti ProContact something or another. OE Mk7 Golf wheels/tires. I’ll be going for a set of 225/45r17s, same as what I’ve got now but I’ll get new wheels (not sure on that front yet either). For me, that size strikes a balance of looks, ride comfort and not having to worry too much about destroying wheels/tires on the shitty and/or gravel roads where I live.

daender > DasWauto 05/25/2016 at 22:47

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I’m not sure how tightly the brakes are tucked behind the wheels, but if you’re seeking comfort (and less likely to bend wheels), then maybe consider decreasing the diameter to 16" and going with a thicker sidewall? Say, 225/55/R16? 225/50/R16 works too but it’ll be about 0.1 shorter overall compared to your current tire.

DasWauto > daender 05/26/2016 at 06:09

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I don’t really seek more comfort, but I’m not taking much less either. The stock wheels are actually 15s so space is not an issue with 17s. Like I said, 17s just hit the right balance between comfort, durability and looks for me.

CaptDale - is secretly British > DasWauto 05/26/2016 at 12:13

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Working with tires, I have to say Michelin are the nicest made tires period.